A$640 million government investment in Australia's medical research

The Australian government announced today that it will invest A$640 million ($485 million) to support Australia’s world-leading health and medical researchers as they continue their work in the laboratory, clinic and the community to find the next major medical breakthrough.

Cancer research continues to be a major priority for the Turnbull government with A$109 million allocated to projects for research into better cancer detection, treatments, care and cures.

Medical research investment is driving an increase in cancer survival rates. It is estimated that more than one million Australians are living with cancer or have survived a cancer diagnosis.

A grant of A$1.16 million will be provided to Professor Banks and colleagues at the Australian National University (ANU) to use data from 70,000 cancer survivors and 190,000 people without cancer to generate new knowledge to improve policy, clinical practice and health outcomes.

Also at ANU, Dr Leonie Quinn and colleagues will use their A$940,000 grant to investigate new drug therapies for brain tumors. Dr Quinn will focus on glioma, the most common type of malignant brain tumour. Her innovative research project aims to find new ways to diagnose and treat this disease.

The funding announced today includes the single largest investment in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) research by the Australian government – with A$16.1 million.

University of Melbourne researcher, Professor Stephen Kent, will lead the innovative research program that will bring together an outstanding team of Australian HIV researchers to tackle this health challenge. The research program aims to advance the understanding of the biology of HIV, ultimately leading to significant clinical benefits for HIV-infected patients and those at risk of acquiring HIV.